Glossary 1
Glossary
A
AC adapter
A device that connects an NEC Versa notebook computer and an AC wall outlet to
provide AC power for running the system and recharging the battery.
A/D conversion
The process of converting an analog signal into a digital signal.
animation
The art of making things appear to move in two-dimensional (2-D) or three-
dimensional (3-D) space and making events happen over time.
applications programs
Software designed to perform specific functions, like solving business or mathematical
problems.
audio
The range of acoustic, mechanical, or electrical frequencies that humans hear.
B
base RAM
Area of system memory between 0 and 640 kilobytes available to the user for the
operating system and application programs.
BIOS
Basic Input Output System. A collection of computer routines, usually burnt into ROM,
that controls the real-time clock, keyboard, disk drives, video display, and other
peripheral devices.
bit
Binary digit. The smallest unit of computer data.
bits per second
(bps) A unit of transmission. Also called baud rate.
board
Printed circuit board (PCB). Board on which computer components are soldered and
thin wires are printed to connect the components.